Process of extracting potassium from minerals.



"UNITE TAT HENRY BLUMENBERG. 3a., or LOS ansnnns, CALIFORNIA, ass):snore. 'ro CHEMICAL CONSTRUCTION COM'EANY, 01'! LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY BLUMENBEnG,

Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes of .Extracting Potassium from Minerals, of which the followin is a specification.

My invention relates to a process of extracting potassium from minerals and particularly from feldspar, and other minerals containingipotassium in insoluble form.

In my I -nited States Patent No. 1,214,003,

under date of January th, 1917, I have de-" scribed a process whereby potassium in minerals,'such asfeldspar, and the like, is rendered amenable by treatment with sodium nitrate. The finely ground feldspar and s0- dium-nitrate are thoroughly mixed and subjected to heat in a closed retort until the sodium nitrate is decomposed and fuses with the feldspar while the nitric oxid fumes are driven ofi, thereby rendering the potassium therein amenable so that the same may be extracted by a treatment of mineral acid. The nitric acid fumes are saved by causing them to combine with calcium hydroxid,

'ably made of cast iron, and subjected to a heat of1200 to 1500 F. until complete fusion takes place. The heating is continued until all the nitric oxids are driven off, which latter may be utilized for making nitrio acid in a well known'manner, or absorbed by lime to form calcium nitrate.

- The reaction in the retort is approximately as follows: 1

3PbNO +KAlSi O Pb KAl silicate+nitric oxids.

The lead of'the lead nitrate will combine rRocEss-or nx'rnaorms ronsssrum raolvr MINERALS.

-' Specification of Letters Patent.

with the constituents of the orthoclase to form a complex lead potassium aluminum silicate, which, after pulveriaation, is treated with a mineral acid, such as nitric acid. Lead nitrate, potassium nitrate and aluminum silicate will be formed, which salts, at ter the mass has been dehydrated to render the silicate insoluble, are leached out from the mass and filtered. The potassium nitrate may be separated from the lead nitrate by the well known methods of crystallization and the lead nitrate may be used for another cycle of operation in the treatn'ient next batch of orthoclase, while the nitrate is an ideal fertilizer, in trogen and potassium, both in'ipcl mentsfor plant growth.

in place of the lead nitrate, either. n nitrate or magnesium nitrate be llnijlli, or any metal nitrate which on heating will give up nitrogen oxids.

Patented Mar. 4, 191% Application filed December 4, 1917. Serial No. 205,447.'

The nitric oxid fumes may be caused to combine with lime to form calcium nitrate, as stated above, or a part of the fused mass, after being ground, may be mixed with water to form a magma through which the nitric oXids are made to pass and to combine-with the lead and the potassium to form lead nitrate, potassium nitrate, alum num nitrate, etc., which may be separated from each other as described.

I claim:

1. A process of extracting potassium salts from minerals containing potassium in an insoluble form, comprising mixing the po tassium containing mineral with a metal nitrate capable of giving up its nitric acid radical when heated and other than alkali and alkaline earth metal nitrate, heating the mass until it fuses and all the nitric oxide have been expelled, treating the mass with 'an acid, and separating the potassium. salt thus formed from the mass.

2. A process of extracting potassium salts from minerals containing potassi'm in an insoluble form, comprising mixing the potassium containing mineral with lead ill trate, heating the mass until it fuses and all the nitric oxids have been expelled. treat.- g the mass with a mineral acid, and separating the potassium salt thus formed from the mass.

Y 8. A process of extracting-potassium salts from minerals containing potassium in an insoluble form, comprising mixing the mineral with a metal nitrate capable of yielding up'its nitric acid radical when heated and other than alkali and alkaline earth metal nitrate, heating the mass until it fuses and all the nitric oxids have been expelled, treating the mass with nitric acid, and separating the potassium nitrate thus formed from the'mass.

4. Av process of extracting potassium salts from silicates containing potassium in an insoluble form comprising mixing the silicates with a metal nitrate capable of yieldmetal nitrate, heating the mass until it fuses and all the nitric oxids have been expelled,

treating the mass with a'mineral acid,v.dehydrating the mass to render the silicates insoluble in water, and mixing water with the dehydrated mass and separating the potassium salt therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have name to this specification.

HENRY BLUMENBERG, 'JR.

signed my 

